Book support



Feb. 23, 1932. D g w gH 1,846,555

BOOK SUPPORT Filed May 51, 1930 Patented Feb. 23, 1932 UNITED ST BOOK SUPPORT Application filed May 31, 1930. Seria1 No. 458,182.

The invention relates generally to a book cover or binder and more particularly to a novel and improved unitary self-supporting book cover of the loose-leaf binder type.

The main object of the invention is to provide a combined book cover and easel of simplified construction wherein the lids of the cover will also form an integral part of the easel, the other part of said easel being formed by a substantially rigid member hingedly secured along one of its longitudinal edges to one of the lids of the cover.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined book cover and easel of simplified construction comprising a book supporting member hingedly secured to one of the lids of the cover along the inner longitudinal edge thereof, said supporting mem- I her being capable of lying in compact relation against its adjacent lid when not in use as a support forthe book.

A further object of the invention is to pro- 'vide in combination with a book cover of the usual construction, a supporting member liingedly secured along the inner edge thereof to the inner edge of one of the lids of said cover, whereby the cover and its contents may be supported in up and down open posi- M tion by the conjoint action of the lids of the cover and the supporting member, said supporting member being foldable upon its adjacent lid to lie compact thereagainst and no time interferes with the free opening and closing of the book or turning of the leaves contained between the lids.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a binder of the character described a novel and improved means for supporting the same in an upright open position, said means being adapted for cooperation with the lids of the binder without in any way altering or changing the construction of the same and in no way interferes with the use of the book in a horizontal open position.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a combined book cover and easel of simplified construction comprising a substantially rigid supporting member hingedly secured to one of the lids of the cover along the rear longitudinal edge thereof, and adapt- PATENT orricr.

ed to be swung outwardly to support the book in open upright position and to relieve the user of the book from the burden of holding the same in a standing position at the rearward inclination which renders reading of the contents of the b venient.

inspection or o'ok most con- A still further object of the invention is to provide a combined book cover and easel which will permit the inspection of the contents of the book in either up or down open position, the easel construction member comprising a hingedly secured to one of the lids horizontal position in a book case or other place of storage, and will not require any substantial additional space for such storage.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a binder of the chara cter described having the usual side lids between which the leaves of the book are contained lid hingedly secured to one of adapted when in open position a supporting said lids and to ooact with the said lids for supporting the book in an upright rearwardly inclined position, and.

when in folded or closed position will lie in compact relation against its adjacent lid and detachably secured thereto whereby the book may be disposed in a flat or horizontal position.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a combined book cover and easel, in which the easel construction may be readily attached to the cover without in any wise modifying or altering the construction of the cover, and which may be readily manufactured and assembled along lines convenient for low cost production, which will be durable in operation, neat in ap pearance and highly efficient for carrying out the purposes for which it is designed.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction,

arrangement and combination of parts, hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

For the purpose of facilitating an under standing of my invention I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, my invention, its mode of construction and assembly and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated.

Referring to the drawings in which the same characters of reference are employed to indicate corresponding or similar parts throughout the several figures of the drawmgs:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of an embodiment of the invention, looking from the rear, with the book supported in an upright open position;

F ig. 2 is a top plan view of the book in its closed position, with the supporting means disposed flat against its adjacent lid; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view. partly broken away, taken on line 33 of Fig. 2.

In the preferred embodiment ofthe invention the supporting means is formed as an integral. part of a bookcover of the loose-leaf binder type and accordingly, it has been illustrated, and will hereinafter be described as a part of covers of that particular type without,.however, intending to restrict the scope of the protection thereto, since it may be readily and usefully employed as a part of any book of any size where the cover is of a construction suitable to be employed with the folding lid which constitutes themain element of the easel structure.

Referring to the drawings more specifically by characters of reference, the numeral 1, designates generally a book cover or binder ha\' ing the usual side lids 2 and 3,- of substantially rigid material, such as cardboard or the like, the backbone 4, which is also of substantially rigid material, and to which the said lids are hinged in any suitable manner. as indicated at 10. The said cover is covered with a suitable material to give/it a neat and attractive appearance. lVithin the backbone portion 4, is adapted to be received and detachably secured the rear longitudinal edges of the leaves 5..said leaves being secured in such amanner as to permit them to be individually folded relatively to the backbone 4, to facilitate in the turning of the said leaves. Any suitable means may be employed for securing the leaves detachably within the backbone, such for example, as the sockets 6, having the heads 7, at one end, and a screw threaded stem 8, which is insertible within the socket and has a head 9, at its end opposite the head 7, of the socket. T iese fasteners extend clear through the backbone portion 4, and the rear ends of the leaves and their heads 7 and 9, lie against the outer surfaces of the backbone portion 4. Obviously, they are extensible to permit variations in the number of leaves and their members are detachable to permit removal or insertion of the leaves. The structure so far described, is well known in the art, and as the same forms no part of the present invention, it is not thought necessary to describe the same in more detail.

In order to support the book cover in an upright open position, I provide the sup porting lid 20, which may be constructed of any suitable substantially rigid material, such as cardboard, or the like, suitably covered with the backing 22, which will conform with the covering for the lids 2 and 3. The said supporting lid 20, is flat and preferably substantially coextensive in width with the width of the lids, so as to present the appearance of a single lid when in its folded position. The rear longitudinal edge of the supporting lid 20, in hingedly secured, as shown at 21, in any suitable and well known manner to the rear longitudinal edge of of one of the lids. In the embodiment illustrated, the same is shown hingedly secured to the lid 3. Obviously, any suitable means may be used for forming the hinge 21, and in the embodiment illustrated the same is formed from the ma terial used for covering the said supporting lid. In order to make the same more durable, the hinge 21, may be reinforced by an additional strip 23, which is secured by pasting or the like, to the adjacent surfaces of the lid 3, and supporting lid 20, as shown in Fig. 2. If desired, the said hinging means may be further strengthened by the rivets 24 passing through the lid 3, and the backing ma terial 22, the outer ends of said rivets being covered by the strip 23, so as to conceal the same from view from the outside of the cover. It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the specific form of hinging means illustrated and described, as any other form or means may be employed for hingedly securing the supporting lid 20, to the lid 3.

To give the proper and desired rearward inclination to the book when the latter is sup ported in its upright open position, the lower edge of the supporting lid 20, may be cut away as shown at 25. The angle of inclination of said lower edge will vary with the amount of tilt it is desired to give to the book when in upright position.

lVhen the member or supporting lid 20, is in its folded position, it will lie compact against the lid 3, and it may be fastened in such position by the detachable fastening means 26, the socket member 27, of which fastening means is carried by the lid 3, adjacent its outer edge intermediate the ends thereof, and the male member 28, is carried by the supporting lid 20, in position to engage within the socket member 27, when the member 20, is moved to its folded position.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the supporting lid 20, when in folded position lies substantially flatwise upon the lid 3, and that it may be swung about the hinging means 21, to an open position, in which position it will constitute the supporting leg of an easel structure by which the book cover or binder and its contents may be held in a standing position, somewhat inclined rearwardly and upwardly from the lower edges of the cover and its contents. It will be understood that when the book is open and the lid 20, has been swung out to its book supporting position, the lower edges of the lids 2 and 3, will be in contact with the surface upon which the book is disposed and will therefore coact with the supporting lid 20, in preventing the falling or the accidental displacement or closure of the book.

It will also be understood that when the supporting lid 20, is in its folded position and detachably secured to the lid 3, by the fastener 26, it will form a substantially single lid, both in appearance and use, as it will in no wise interfere with the openincr or closing of the book when the latter is lying flatwise upon a suitable supporting surface. On the other hand when it is desired to support the book in an upright position, it is only necessary to unfasten the fastener 26, and the supporting lid 20, will sing out and assume a proper supporting position without requiring any adjustment of parts. In this respect it will be noted that the device is substantially automatic in its operation.

It is believed that my invention, its mode of construction and many of its advantages should be readily understood from the foregoing without further description, and should also be manifest that while a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described for illustrative purposes, the structural details are, nevertheless, capable of wide variation within the purview of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Batent of the United States is:

1. A unitary book cover or binder which is self-supporting in standing position when open, said cover or binder comprehending a pair of laterally opening side members or lids hingedly secured to a back member, and a supporting lid hingedly connected to one of said side members or lids inwardly of the rear edge of said back member at its rear edge to adapt the said member and its connecting lid to be closed toward each other and to be opened laterally, at will, said supporting lid and side members or lids co-operating when open to support the cover or binder in standing position, the remaining portion of said supporting member being co-extensive in width with the lid to which it is connected, the lower edge of said supporting member being cut away at an angle to give to the cover a rearward inclination when it is supported in standing position.

2. A book cover or binder comprising a pair of laterally opening side members hingedly secured to a back member, and a supporting lid of substantially rigid construction hingedly secured to one of said side members at its rear edge, whereby said supporting lid and its connecting member are adapted to be closed towards each other and to be opened laterally at will, said supporting lid and side members cooperating when open to support the cover or binder in standing position, the lower edge of said supporting lid being cut away at an angle to give to the cover a rearward inclination when it is supported in standing position.

In witness whereof, I afiix my signature.

DAVID HORWICH. 

